II.

REVELATION II. 7—He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches.

THESE words, while more immediately addressed by our glorified Redeemer, through His servant John, to the ancient Church of Ephesus, are, nevertheless, to be regarded as of general interest and importance, as calling for the earnest, devout attention and consideration of God's professing people in every age of the world. The instruction of the Spirit of God in the Holy Scriptures is of permanent and world-wide importance. "O earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord," is the Spirit's universal and continual call; and it is man's clear and unequivocal duty "to incline his ear and hear, to come unto the Lord that his soul may live." We do well to think of this, and to remember that although the Divine Spirit is addressing more directly the men or the Churches of other times, we are to mark and consider well the bearing of His heavenly communications upon ours, and that, whatever may have been their primary objects or design, that which is said to one Church is worthy of the close attention, and is really intended for the benefit of all Churches. "Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning." " "He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches." Blessed is the man who heareth and receiveth His divine and precious instructions; for "He teacheth savingly and to profit."

Our purpose at present is, looking up for divine aid and supplicating the divine blessing, to direct your attention to those highly important practical lessons which are contained in our Lord's communication to the Church of Ephesus, and which may be regarded as addressed by the Holy Spirit to the Church or Churches of Christ in all ages; and in this message or epistle you will observe He instructs us :

I. That works constitute the main test of character.

II. That when, in doing the Lord's work, we are called to encounter difficulties and trials, we should exemplify the grace of patience.

III. That we should zealously oppose that which is evil, whether it be error in doctrine or irregularity in practice.

IV. That, while we may be administering just reproof to others, we ourselves may be declining in spirituality of mind, and in our love to Jesus.

Such seems to be the instruction conveyed to us by the Holy Spirit in or through our Lord's message to the Church of Ephesus. Let us give our earnest, sacred attention to it.

I. We are taught that works constitute the main test of character. "I know thy works and thy labour, and how for my name's sake thou hast laboured, and hast not fainted." Verses 2-3.

"Ye shall know them by their fruits," says Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount. "Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." True religious principle cannot fail to develop

or manifest itself in an active, practical Christianity. It is just as natural for the man who has been by the Spirit of God quickened to newness of life, to exhibit the reality and power of that life in his external deportment as it is for a tree to indicate its nature and qualities by the fruit which it bears. He who has the Spirit of Jesus will follow His steps. "Faith without works is dead, being alone. Shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." "These things

I will that thou affirm constantly, that they who have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works." No man can peruse with any degree of attention the word of God without being convinced that the great design of the gospel is to lead men not simply to the belief but also to the practice of the truth-that, while it calls upon them to embrace the doctrines which it reveals, it enjoins upon them also the habitual and consistent exhibition of their heavenly character and influence in the life and conversation. A man does not necessarily become a Christian, when by profession he assumes the name of one-when he puts his signature, as it were, to an orthodox creed. Much more than this is necessary to prove a man's claim to the appellation or character of Christian. Not only must his creed be sound, or scriptural, but his daily practice or walk must accord with the requirements of the Gospel-must constitute a living and abiding testimony to the purifying and elevating influence of its heavenly doctrines. He must demonstrate the excellence, or heavenly origin, of his faith by the cheerful and devoted obedience of a godly life. Hereby shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye do whatsoever I command you." It were an easy matter to be a Christian,

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if Christianity consisted simply in a speculative assent to or reception of the doctrines of the Gospel. But to be a Christian, in the Bible sense of the term, implies, not the profession only, but the cordial reception also, and love of the truth as it is in Jesus—a life ennobled and adorned by holy effort and active virtue. To be a Christian a man must both believe and do. He is called not only to apply his mind to the diligent consideration of Bible doctrine or truth, but to strive also with the stern realities of life, with every possible variety of opposition; and in his habitual contest with hostile influences, and in the way he acquits and deports himself, he must evidence the presence and potency of the heavenly life, and the practical value and importance of the truths he professes to have embraced. He who has received the truth in the love of it must make this plain by holding forth the word of life, by bringing forth the true and proper fruits thereof.

And the active labour of the believer, prompted and stimulated by love to Christ, will have reference both to himself and others. It will be his primary, special design and aim to advance personally in the divine life, to become more and more conformed to the spirit and image of Jesus, to fight more and more successfully against the enemies of his peace and salvation, to give all diligence, in short, to make his calling and election sure. And in such work, need I say, he will have hard and incessant labour to undergo. The Christian's task indeed is never done, because they who seek his life are never at rest. To maintain his position as a faithful follower of the Lamb, to make head against his spiritual adversaries, to keep the straightforward path of duty through the

wilderness of this world, is a work requiring no small amount of Christian fortitude, activity, and perseverancea fortitude that will not succumb to danger, an activity and a perseverance resolved to meet, and in God's name, and by His grace, to overcome all difficulties and discouragements. The Christian's confidence are the promises and assurances of his Lord. His courage and active persevering devotedness are indeed the fruit and the evidence of his believing reliance upon pledged and promised grace. Were self, or an arm of flesh, his only resort and his only dependence, he would signally fail and give way in the contest; but he can go forward with fearless determination, and with buoyant, confident hope, clinging to and resting upon these blessed sustaining assurances. "As thy day is, so shall thy strength be.” "My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness." the Christian's active work or labour has reference to others as well as to himself. The spirit that stimulates and animates him is not a spirit of narrow selfishness, but the warm generous spirit of a gospel charity, which induces him to do good to all men as he has opportunity, though specially to them who are of the household of faith. Endowed with the spirit of Jesus, his blessed Lord and Master, like Him he pleads, and like Him he labours on behalf of the Church, and of an unconverted world. Good cause, indeed, has he oftentimes to mourn the sluggishness of his exertions, and the coldness of his zeal. Yet, amid many failings, infirmities, and sins, he perseveres in the service of his Saviour-prosecuting without ostentation, yet with steady and habitual effort, his walks of usefulness, and his schemes of Christian

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